God's Country, Montana

I spent three nights in the middle of nowhere on a ranch in Wolf Creek, Montana. When I arrived, I was hesitant at the lack of activity and thought it was going to be a long trip. I had not experienced this remote of a location in a long time - there was not a building or cell phone reception within 30 miles. The isolation at first struck me as somewhat alarming and reminiscent of some venue for the perfect Dateline Mystery. By the end of the trip I grew to enjoy the change of pace and almost wished I could stay longer. I left with a renewed appreciation for the outdoors. In a lot of ways, the entire experience felt like a grown up summer camp. The meals had a set schedule but in between eating, we were left to explore the ranch - horseback, fishing, floating the Missouri and beer drinking, lots of beer drinking.

After a 14 hour car ride, we arrived back home. And while I enjoy the modern convenience of wireless internet and a full bar just downstairs, there is something to be said for spending the day under the sun and the night around a campfire. Ranches like this are where stories are told and made - and Maker's Mark tastes just a little better when consumed around a campfire.

Astoria Road Trip

Astoria is a small coastal town in the northwest corner of Oregon. The city was named after the American investor (and first millionaire) John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1810. In 1926, Vincent Astor, the great grandson of John Jacob Astor, built The Astoria Column, to commemorate his great grandfather and the region's early history. Today, the town has approximately 10,000 residents.

Steph and I decided to visit Astoria after her sister, Lyn, recommended a trip. We pulled into town in the early afternoon and checked into The Commodore, a small hotel located in downtown Astoria.


The Commodore originally opened its doors in 1920 and served primarily as a traveler's hotel. The Commodore mysteriously shut down in 1965 without any explanation. The upper floors of the building were sealed shut for over 40 years.


In 2009, The Commodore re-opened it's doors after a major renovation. Today, The Commodore is a unique hotel that combines an urban aesthetic with a vintage charm (all original wood and fixtures).


The hotel's lobby is connected to a great coffee shop that serves coffee during the day and wine during the evening. The hotel and coffee shop both have a noticeable Portland or Seattle vibe (Fleet Foxes were on repeat) - even the barista looked like a city hipster, complete with the beanie, long hair and five o'clock shadow.

The rooms at The Commodore are small with shared bathrooms at the end of the hallway.


After checking in, we spent the next two days wandering around the town, eating, drinking and enjoying Astoria. Taking recommendations from the locals, we went to the Voodoo, the Astoria Coffee House, Fort George and T. Paul's Supper Club.


Astoria is filled with coffee shops, bars and great restaurants. The entire town feels a lot like miniature NE Portland, with a large population of youngish, tattooed adults operating quirky businesses and bars.



The Astoria column is approximately 125-feet tall and stands atop Coxcomb Hill. The column includes an interior spiral staircase that leads to an observation deck at the top. On May 2, 1974 the column was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Astoria surprised me -- it is nothing like Seaside or any other coastal town I've been to in Oregon. It's a small town that wants to be a big city. Good for Astoria!

Steph and I left Astoria and agreed to visit again in the spring or summer, when climbing the column might be rewarded with a view of the town (instead of fog).

Mountaineering: 42.07N 122.71W

“I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape – the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show.”
– Andrew Wyeth

The weather was becoming increasingly colder as I hatched out a plan to escape the doldrums of Southern Oregon. My trip home for the holidays had become stagnate - Christmas had come and gone and I found myself growing restless, waiting around for New Years Eve. The plan was to get out of town. Even if just for a night, I needed some adventure. I made some calls and the trip was hastily planned. There would be snowmobiles, fire and no cell phone reception. We would eat, drink and live like men.

Conferences & Chandeliers

I spent the last couple nights in a Red Lion Hotel. I remember in the early 90s, the Red Lion was the mecca of all things business. The first time I saw a limo was in the Red Lion parking lot. I remember seeing men wearing suits and ties, walking in and out of the fancy hotel - they were always walking really fast and carrying brief cases. They were in a hurry because business never stops, especially in Medford, Oregon. They were successful and successful people always stayed at the Red Lion. I assumed that they were probably working for Harry and David. In Medford, children were led to believe that international business revolved around two Medford residents named, Harry and David. They were the Willy Wonka of Medford and every so often they would open their factory doors and throw chocolate truffles at the kids, free turkeys at the poor and bus passes to suspended drivers. When I was in grade school, my teacher announced that we were going to go on a field trip to Harry and David and I began running around the classroom singing, "I've got the golden ticket" and wishing I had a bed ridden Grandpa to invite to the big factory. Here are your slippers Grandpa!